This work is the latest example of an international health initiative by Mount Sinai.

New York

– December 7, 2013 /Press Release/ ––

Today the Minister of Health of the Dominican Republic, Lorenzo Wilfredo Hidalgo, MD, joined representatives from the Mount Sinai Health System and Corinthian IPA, an independent medical providers' association based in the Inwood section of Manhattan, to continue to advance their dialogue aimed at improving the health status of the Dominican community in New York City and in their home country. This work is the latest example of an international health initiative by Mount Sinai.

Hosting Dr. Hidalgo for the visit were officials from the Mount Sinai Health System, who were joined at the press event by Julio Amado Castanos, President of Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE) in Santo Domingo, D.R. and President of the Hospital General Plaza de la Salud; Ramon Tallaj, MD, CEO of Corinthian IPA; Juan Tapia, MD, CEO of Pediatrics 2000; and Eliscer Guzman, CEO, Cardiology Unlimited.

"The Dominican community is a hallmark of the immigrant experience in the 21st century, with most members keeping a toehold both in the United States and in their homeland. And for years, the hospitals of the Mount Sinai Health System, from The Mount Sinai Hospital in East Harlem and the Upper East Side, to St. Luke's Hospital on Manhattan's Upper West Side, have not only provided access to healthcare for this community, but have counted thousands of proud Dominicans as part of our family,"said Arthur Klein, MD, President of the Mount Sinai Health Network, in a statement. "Now, we will advance our discussions to help residents in the Dominican Republic continue to receive the highest quality healthcare through collaborative efforts between Mount Sinai, UNIBE and the Dominican healthcare community."

"This new dialogue between the Mount Sinai Health Network and the Health Ministry will benefit the Dominican Republic by potentially giving Dominican public hospitals, for example, access to sophisticated diagnostic methods for certain types of cancer through sharing Mount Sinai's expertise in the training of physicians and nurses in high tech care,"said Dr. Hidalgo.

"As this new relationship continues to grow, I'm filled with joy and gratitude to see the commitment and dedication were all depositing in this journey,"said Corinthian's CEO Dr. Tallaj. "As a Dominican doctor in the State of New York, I know how important our affiliation is to our country and our fellow Dominicans who reside in this state. I value the Corinthian IPA's relationship with Mount Sinai not only for the medical services our patients receive from such a prestigious organization as Mount Sinai, but also for what the country can learn and benefit from, such as education and training provided by the hospital."

About the Mount Sinai Health SystemThe Mount Sinai Health System is an integrated health system committed to providing distinguished care, conducting transformative research, and advancing biomedical education. Structured around seven member hospital campuses and a single medical school, the Health System has an extensive ambulatory network and a range of inpatient and outpatient services—from community-based facilities to tertiary and quaternary care.

The System includes approximately 6,600 primary and specialty care physicians, 12-minority-owned free-standing ambulatory surgery centers, over 45 ambulatory practices throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, and Long Island, as well as 31 affiliated community health centers. Physicians are affiliated with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, which is ranked among the top 20 medical schools both in National Institutes of Health funding and by U.S. News & World Report.